Castle In the Air

I got a job that requires me to fill out written forms quickly and rapidly. The normal pens from nearby stores gave me hand cramps and the quality was often hit or miss. I decided to look for quality business pens and a store owner recommended I check out Castle in the Air.
The store is cluttered but certainly eye-​catching with lots of interesting artwork and craft supplies. When I explained my situation, they showed me a few pens and let me try generic versions of each. After settling on one pen design (a Retro 1951 Tornado), I decided to purchase (I’ve since found the price was high but for decent service I’m willing to pay for something I’ll use). I also bought a few refills made by the same company, which were excellent. This first encounter was great, even though I felt that they weren’t happy I was on a budget and more interested in quality writing than fancy premium designs.
Then the trouble started.
When you get these high-​end pens, you need to buy refills periodically. When I went back to the store, they didn’t have the same brand as what I got with the pen but gave me a similar design that would fit inside. This refill was awful and had lots of problems. When I went back to replace the bad refill with the original type of refill I got with the pen, I was told that *they didn’t sell the brand they sold me as a replacement.* Even so, they relented and replaced my bad refill with another generic refill, and I bought two more of those. I’m finding that this refill also is a poor quality knockoff that frequently has trouble. I want to return the two I paid for to avoid this situation again but I’m now concerned that without obvious markings these unused refills will also be «a brand they don’t carry.»
If I wanted sketchy sales practices, I’d buy online where I get that for free and the prices are cheaper. They could have had me as a repeat customer for years or even decades by providing good service and quality products, Now I want to avoid them entirely.

This place is magical. So pretty. Most importantly, they know their pens. I gather that some people think they are snooty in the other comments… but you can’t walk into Giorgio Armani and expect to buy a $ 20 pair of jeans without the sales person looking at you a bit confused… I definitely did not experience any rudeness and in fact was really happy with the service. 5 Stars. Will come again and again and again :)

Everything is cute and lovely here. Everybody that works there are nice and helpful. At the counter where you pay, there is a tray of mini handmade glass figurines that are $ 5.00 each. I recently bought one, and when I payed for it, it was nicely put in a small and cute bag. I loved it!

Beautiful store. Could have spent a lot more time and a lot more money here :)
Came in for Clairefontaine journal — a specific kind of French paper that’s sort of hard to find but really smooth and perfect for writing. Anyway, they had a color I had never seen before that I LOVE (sea foam) — never saw this online or anywhere else, and their price was very reasonable.
I also noticed they had BEAUTIFUL Golden Gate Bridge themed lasercut cards and other lovely gift-​type items. Would definitely return here the next time I’m in town! :)

I will leave 2 stars for the their inventory but the man who helped me was so condescending and rude when I told him my price range. I got the impression unless you have the money to buy the higher end pens he is not interested in spending the time to really help you. It made me feel so unwelcome that when I do have the money to spend I would not patron «Castle in the Air» again.

Take your business elsewhere. When my husband and I walked in past the counter and to the back, no one greeted us. The guy who was obvious that he worked there actually stared at us.
I was looking at the crêpe paper in the back and a woman whom I thought worked there came up to me and started telling me that they have classes for the crêpe flowers. She said she attended all of them. Very friendly only to find out she didn’t work there.
I got what I needed and approached the counter. The guy behind the counter again stared at me… did I look like an alien that day? I couldn’t tell you if I did. I paid for my items and left.
I have ordered online and that might just be what I will do from now on. The employees are not friendly in person. Online ordering actually does not tell you when your order is ready for pick up so make sure you call in. They say it’s usually ready the same day but save yourself a trip and call ahead.

Amazing place! I’ve always loved to look in, but they are also a practical stop on the road to making something beautiful. My 4+ year old and I wandered in to make a mask. The assistant (dressed in the most beautiful flower fairy costume) helped us find: mask, paper, glue, gold trim, 2 ribbons, gold glitter glue. The kid and I spent the next morning making the mask (cutting out triangles mostly) and it all worked beautifully.

I’m devastated. I love this store so much that I brought 4 friends here recently on my birthday because it’s my favorite store and I wanted to share it with my Dearest friends. Each of us bought $ 80 + worth of items. I’m a regular customer here for several years now, or was a regular customer. One of my rituals is buying a few new stamps for my collection every time I visit, and a new color of stamp pad. When I was there on my birthday my boyfriend picked out a stamp pad that looked like a rainbow on the package. Unfortunately when I got it home and opened it, the visual representation on the package was nothing like what the stamp pad actually was. The colors were dull and unappealing. I was disappointed, but resolved to just take it back to trade for another. It’s 20 minutes from my house but stamp pads are not cheap ($ 8.50) and it would have been wasteful to just throw it away. I checked the receipt and there were a few types of items they would not accept exchanges for, but stamp pads were not one of them and there were no indications in the policy that this would be and item ineligible for exchange. Alas. I presented my receipt and lack luster stamp pad and the clerks agreed it did not appear on the inside as it was represented on the outside, however my exchange request was denied because the stamp pad had been opened. I let them know I was a faithful customer but that didn’t help me. I had a hard time believing what I was being told. I was turned away. I’m sure this store will continue to thrive without my business, and while I think it’s truly a special place, I feel disrespected and uncared for as a loyal patron. I would never tell anyone not to go here, but be leery that the exchange policy is not what the reciept says, it’s whatever the clerk in charge decides is the best choice to make. I did not agree with her and don’t feel good about returning to support this establishment. The magic died for me…

Shop elsewhere. Your business is not appreciated here at all.
I was informed that this store carried specialty fountain pens by another person. I drove 70 miles (140 miles round trip) in hopes that they had a specific pen. When I asked a woman employee for help looking for a specific pen, the woman was unhelpful and rude saying «what you see here is all we have» pointing at 1 display case of pens. A man employee over heard her and informed us that there were more pens in 2 other display cases and some in the back. He took us to the back and brought out a box full of pens similar to the one I asked for; these were not in the display case. Instead of helping sort through the pens, he just left me with the box and told me to look for what I want myself.
When I found the pen I wanted, I asked how much it was and they quoted me a price that was almost DOUBLE what the pen is online from reputable pen stores. Even with paying for shipping, the item would be much cheaper to purchase online. I understand that items are generally a little pricier in brick and mortar stores than online, but what they quoted was MUCH more than an expected price hike.
I eventually left without buying the item, mostly due to the employees being so rude and unhelpful.

Torn between 4 – 5 stars, only because of the generally expensive prices. But the shop is too whimsical and unique to not give it five stars. And calligraphers, this is a must-​stop shop.
I find it kinda amusing when I hear people say they make a purchase every time they drop in… is everyone loaded or what?! Haha. But really, it is always tempting to buy something when I come in… today, I walked by the window with NO intention of giving into temptation, until I noticed a few postcards I hadn’t seen last time. Alas, I ended up purchasing two calligraphy related ones. Just about $ 2, thank goodness.
The store can feel overwhelming and claustrophobic when there are a lot of shoppers winding around all the dainty, colorful items. But I love it when the store has only a few browsers, much more breathing room to pick up all the tiny items — charms, stamps, papers, fabrics, cards, pen nibs, leather journals, you name it. You feel like you’re in a magical, old-​world place filled with fairies, garden gnomes, and cute mice. It’s a renaissance in there! A really memorable environment.
Service can be awkward sometimes, but overall friendly and helpful. I’m bummed that their classes (they take place upstairs) fill up so fast. I tried signing up for a English copperplate calligraphy course over two months in advance, and it was already filled! Saves me over $ 100 though…

When I think of Castle in the Air, I always immediately remember Hayao Miyazaki’s movie. It is a masterpiece of a movie, and I just felt inclined to mention that.
This store is like waking up in the middle of a dream and opening your eyes to this world full of magic and wonder. There is so much in here that it is hard to capture the essence with words alone.
Handmade items– and lots of them. Dolls, figurines, puppets, wool creatures, etc. There are things like stationary, stamps, pens, and scrapbooking supplies. There are gnomes, fairies, buttons, mushrooms, toys, jewelry. Basically anything your heart can dream of!
There is an upstairs of the shop as well that is full of handmade toys and décor that will make your jaw drop. Everything is so beautiful. It is inspiring, really.
The prices are high, but worth it.

After months of anticipation, I finally made it to Castle in the Air. This is a great place to purchase crêpe paper and calligraphy items in store. Online shopping is convenient but picking out your crafting supplies just makes the whole experience so much more exciting. The customer service here is wonderful. Everyone was so friendly and helped me with the prices for all the different types of crêpe paper. One gentleman gave me some tips on the best scissors and glue for my crafts and let me know about the class schedule. Parking isn’t easy, since this is a busy strip with minimal parking spaces and tons of cool shops.

The customer service is top-​notch here! I’m only giving this 4 stars because twice I’ve ordered from here and the items have been out of stock. They were quick to call me, however, informing me of the situation and offering options.
I first stumbled upon this site on a DIY blog post that involved découpage. It suggested Castle in the Air for pretty floral paper that you could cut out and mod podge onto an ostrich egg for a twist on the traditional dyed Easter egg.
I was instead going to use the floral cutouts for a dresser I acquired off Craigslist and had painted black. My heart was set on this pretty yellow floral sheet paper from Italy. I ordered it and got a call a few days later that it was out of stock. They told me that they could refund me or I could wait. I decided to wait since I was in no hurry to refinish the dresser.
I got a call a few weeks later telling me that I would just be refunded for the amount I paid, and when they actually did get it back in stock they would give it to me for free. This was almost a year ago, but I have faith that they will keep their word. They have done nothing but make me feel like a valued customer the whole way through. I’ve looked elsewhere for similar floral sheet papers and have found nothing close. I truly believe that their product is worth the wait.
In the meantime, I have ordered from them again for another project I did. I had seen these dog heads taxidermy style at Anthropologie and wanted to do something similar with paper mache. I thrifted the frame but needed a nice background for it and thought the Mimosa sheet paper would go perfectly! I’m very happy with the way my project turned out and have added pictures in the gallery.
Overall, I can tell the way this business is run and would like to fully support it whenever I can! I live in San Diego so have only shopped online but if I’m ever in Berkeley I will definitely go of my way to stop by.
They also sent this cute newsletter which I’ve used to Mod Podge onto a storage box. Pictures coming soon!
Would love to update my review into a 5-​star rating when I get the yellow floral sheet paper. I understand that shipments coming from another country are far more complicated, and, given the graceful and professional manner in which they’ve dealt with the situation, am more than willing to give ample leeway in fulfilling the order.

Perhaps the coolest store in the world!
Where else can you find a store that sells «imagination?» This store is a marvel and pretty much restores my faith in humanity. I love to browse there and never fail to find something entrancing. A must for holidays and I love love love the Christmas ornaments such as glitter unicorns. centaurs and other magical creatures. Do yourself a favor and go thee to Castle in the Air!

Oh the humanity! My mother and I visited this store on Saturday (08÷02÷14) and discovered so many beautiful trims and papers that could be transformed into lifetime treasures. Be sure to chat with John and Whitney about the origins of the many beautiful art kits, inks and papers. I purchased fabric trims with the purpose of making hairbands for myself and my many tribal dancing friends. What would I have purchased had I an unlimited budget? Why, the Venetian stamped leather purses, of course! NEXT time!

Who knew it could be so hard to find crêpe paper?! I’ve been on the hunt for crêpe paper for a crafting project and it’s hard to find a Bay Area brick & mortar that sells it.
Castle in the Air to the rescue, they have doublettes (double sided crêpe paper) in an assortment of color, heavy duty crêpe (for sculpting/​molding), all in a huge array of colors. So many c o l o r s, it’s actually hard to pick! I’m in awe of the quality and selection.
They have a bunch of other crafting items you don’t normally find at your Michaels/​Joanns.
Looking forward to taking a class in the future! Just wish they opened a litlte later (perhaps 7pm?) for those of us that can’t make it during work hours.

This is my favorite store on 4^th street. It’s a magical papery store. It’s like you just transported yourself to a store in Harry Potters world. Fountain pens, special inks, personalized wax stamps, special envelopes, beautiful old styles brass desk flair and then upstairs is adorable little mice world creatively crafted to melt your heart. You’ll have to see it for yourself. But I will tell you hand crafted magic wands are sold here!!!
I have never left this place without buying something.

This store is totally for nifty, crafty people. They have a great selection of small goods (which are sort of pricey).
They have cool sorts of pens and other writing utensils. I loved the wax sticks and wax letter seal stamps. Super cool.
They offer craft classes. They have tons of different papers across the store. I didn’t get to look upstairs, but there are a million things to look at here.
Staff didn’t help me but they were super helpful and friendly to others in the store.

Ahhh Castle in the Air, you are wonderful! This store is an inspirational haven for any crafter, letter writer, journaler, fiber artist, or person that appreciates an awesome boutique. This store introduced me to the glory of German glass glitter, and the way they have their colors set up (in glass vials sealed with corks) is a sight to be hold. Pure beauty! I always come in here and pick a little something up when I’m in the area. Their prices are a little steep, and a couple times I’ve felt a little bit like I’m not crafty enough to be in there, but i’ll take ownership of that. Their customer service could use the tiniest bit of polishing, but hey, nobody’s perfect and I’ll be a loyal customer for life.
Castle in the Air, you’re great. Thank you for all the good that you do.

I am admittedly crafty. If you see me trudging down 4^th St. in my combat boots, you probably wouldn’t expect that I would be headed to Castle In The Air for some German glass glitter and doublette crêpe paper but I am.
Years ago, I took a detail oriented flower making class here from the paper art goddess, Anadamayi Arnold. Even now, with a bit of crêpe paper, florist wire, a spot of glue, and some scissors, I can fashion a snazzy little bouquet. These days, making random pretty things is one of the best ways I deal with stress. Castle In The Air is a kingdom of pretty supplies so naturally, I have to show them some love.
In addition to teaching arts and crafts classes, they have a vast range of products for sale. Calligraphy kits, tons of gorgeous crêpe paper, ornaments made of glass, expensive pens, papier mache molds, die cut sheets, and much more. They also have a sweet selection of postcards, stationary, and greeting cards. Don’t be deceived upon first look, there are plentiful specialty items to snag as gifts for other craftheads that skip the gnome and fairy aspect of the store altogether.
Come support a small family run business and let your artistic, whimsical side shine.